Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-09

The mattcr-ol-fact deliberateneSs
with which she had prevented MY
meeting Laurence alarmed me. This
was Wednesday, and Mr.. Rayncr
would not probably return before Sat
urday. What new proof of her hatred
might she not give me in those three
days? ] turned again TO Laurence's
note. Why had he thought it worth
while to mention that he saw two men
in the cart outside the stable gate when
he left me the previous night? What
meaning could it have to him? 1t had
meaning to me. certainly; but that
was because | had seen Tom Parkes
bring in the portmanteau and return
across the lawn with Sarah. The men,
ton of the cart revived my curiosity
regarding last nights adventure. |
thought | would write Laurence and
tell him what | had seen. | was still
looking at the note when Sarah came
to bring my candle. an office she seldom
undertook. l saw q look of disappoint-
ment and alarm come over her face as
her quick eyes fell on my note. and |
took the precaution to learn the address
l was to write to by heart before in
closing this farewell note of l. 'ence's
with the first, which l still wore around
my neck.
The next morning l received letter
from Mr.. Rayner He had been to the
Gaiety Theater the night he arrived in
town, and sent me 4 crumpled pro-
gramme of the performance. with some
comments which did not interest me
as l had never been to a theater but
once in my life. l laughed to myself
at Laurence's fancy that he had seen
Mr.. Rayner in the dress of navy at
the station that night. Then he gave
me message to deliver which l had
much rather not have been intrusted
with, and at breakfast l said to Sarah:
"Mr. Rayner has sent a message to
you in letter l have just received
from him. He says: Tell Sarah not to
forget the work she has to do in my
absence.
As looked up after reading this out
to her, saw that her face had turned
quite livid; the old hatred of me
cleaned in her eyes.
She said: VERY well, MISS" and I
wondered what work it was.
Mrs. Rayner did not appear in the
dlning-room, and to my inquiries Sa-
rah replied that she was not well
enough to do so. was obliged to see
my hope of gaining her sympathy
fade away, and to recognize the fact
that either she or Sarah would not al
low me chance of breaking down the
barrier OF reserve which had arisen be-
tween us. could let her see that l
had not forgotten her, though; and in
spired by this thought went out into
the garden to gather her a bunch of
flowers. After long search collect
ed fair October bouquet, and then l
thought it would look better if placed
in vase which was in the drawing
room. SO ran in there. with my
fr0ck still TUCKED up, the gardening
knife in one dirty hand and my basket
of flowers on my arm. Ihad my hand
still on the handle of the door, when !
saw there was a gentleman in there,
standing at the window, looking out
into the garden. slipped back hasti-
ly. hoping to escape before he could
catch sight of me; but he turned.
crossed the room quickly and stopped
me.
"Miss Christle?"
1t was Mr.. Carruthers.
"They told me you were out" Sa-
rah's work, thought l.
mo; was only in the garden"
There was no help for my appear
ance now, so quietly took the pin out
of my frock and let it down while he
went on talking.
II am very, very glad to see you.
You are looking very well. l am
afraid" said he, still holding my hand,
"you have not been missing any of us
much"
"Well, you see had known the peo-
pie there only two days." said l seri-
ously.
1.-THE people therer AS if l cared
how little you missed the people there!'
When say you have not been missing
any of us, l mean you have not been
! missing me. l can't think why you
don't like me, when l like. you so
much"
''Oh, but you do not understand me.
Mr. Carruthers! i do like you very
much; but"
"There-you have spoiled it all with
that unkind but! Don't you think me
handsome? l am considered one Of
the handsomest men about town, l as
sure you"
mot rcaly?"
This slipped out quickly, for thought
he was in fun. l afterwards found out,
to my surprise, that it was true; but
did not learn it then, for he looked very
much amused, and said
THAT is blow number two; you are
too quick at fence for me-" Then
changing his tone, he suddenly asked
"Well, don't you want to know what
is going on at Denham Court?"
"Ob, yes! But there has not been
time for much to happen. left there
on Monday and this is only Thursday
There has been time for very Sc
rious misfortune to happen. for all
that" he said, gravely. Last night
Denham Court was broken into, and
Lady Mills and Mrs. Cunningham and
Mrs. Carew and some of the other ladies
had all their most valuable jewelry
stolen; and quantity of gold plate was
taken, too"
was SO startled by this intelligence
| tudI lOI lew mlHutcS i udTuly kIcW
what was doing.
"Last night, did you sayp" said al
last, in frightened whisper.
Eyes, last night. Sit down." said
he, kindly, putting me into chair.
"This seems to have quite overwhelmed
you. Why, child, your very lips are
white! Let me ring for some"
mo, nor interrupted, starting up.
II am quite we'll; am not going to
faint Don't-don't ring. Tell me al
about it quickly, please. When did
you find it out? Have they caught the
thieves? Do they know"
"Stop-I can't tell you all at once.
The thieves have not been caught yet
and we don't know who they are. The
robbery was discovered this morning.
This morning! Who discovered It'll
How?''
Now don't get excited, and will
tell you all about it. This morning 9
ladder was found lying underneath
Lady Mills dressing-roOm window,
which had been opened by smashing
one OF the panes from the outside. II
was Lady Mills maid who first gave
the alarm by cry at sight of the open
window when she went into the dreas.
ingroom this morning. after calling
her mistress. Lady Mills ran in; they
looked out together, and saw the lad.
II III, L..